Unexpected Christmas Gifts: “Life with the Spirit"

INTRO: Series intro: HESS Truck/clothes were expected, STAR WARS was unexpected

- When it comes to following Christ, you expect to get certain things (heaven, forgiveness, hope, peace, etc.). However, Paul tells us in the NT that there are “Immeasurable Riches for those in Christ”. There are so many more gifts that we get because of what Jesus has done. These next few weeks we are going to check some of these out. Tonight, we will look at the Spirit of God. We are going to be in Romans 8:1-11 and we are going to see…

MPT: Paul wanted the Romans to know that because the Spirit resides in them, they can experience life abundantly.

- You know what that means? Peace on your darkest days, joy in the toughest moments, daily abiding with God, faithfully serving on his mission, constant dependence on him. (FN) Here is the problem: I don’t think you believe that. I don’t think you believe that! If you believed the Spirit of God gives you true life, then you would be transformed. You would let the Spirit change the way you think and live. You would not allow yourself to be defeated, purposeless, and settling for the things of this world. You would see that God offers you so much more. (MPS) Guys, I want you to experience life abundantly because of the Spirit lives in you! (KW) I want to show you 3 Ways the Spirit gives you life abundantly.

Read Romans 8:1-11, Pray

1. The Spirit in you changes how you stand.

EX:

- Context: Paul is a Christian that is sent by Jesus in the book of Acts to go and plant churches. He planted churches in Ephesus, Corinth, and other cities. He now wants to plant a church in Rome. So, the letter of Romans is his first interaction with the church in Rome. He starts by telling them how he can’t wait to be with them. Then he proceeds to give us 11 chapters explaining the gospel and why it matters! He speaks of a broken world caused by sin. You all can agree this world is broken. He says the result of this brokenness is death. However, he speaks of a God who overcame death. A God who loves you and me so much that he would step into this world himself and suffer to save us. Of course, you know this is Jesus. The Father sent his Son, Jesus, to satisfy the penalty we owed because we sinned. The result? Look at verse 1.

- (Romans 8:1) This means no judgment for Christians. This is what we are saved from! Praise God! That is an overlooked reason to praise God.

- (Romans 8:2) How is this work applied to you? Law emphasizes regularity here. Not Law of Moses. It is natural that the way humans sinfully live produces death. However, it is supernatural the work of the Spirt because He goes against the laws of this world and produces life.

- (Romans 8:3) The Law of Moses was given by God to give his people a standard by which to live. They couldn’t obey though. God stepped in and did what we could not do. He sent his Son, Jesus, in the likeness of sinful flesh and he was condemned instead of us.

- (Romans 8:4) We now stand righteous, or right with God, because Jesus upheld our end of the deal as our representative. Humanity is saved because one of us did it right…Jesus. But only those who have this salvation applied to them through the Spirit have this life.

APP:

a. Have you responded to the gospel? (Justified or condemned)

b. Have you graduated from the gospel? Imagine you cheated in elementary math (Some of you misunderstand what the Spirit is doing. He is not moving on from the gospel, He is showing you more of it. He is doing this through discipleship, regular preaching, small groups, parents)

2. The Spirit in you changes how you think.

EX:

- (Romans 8:5) There are two main ways people live: in the flesh or by the Spirit. One of the ways you can tell where you are is what your mind is set on. Flesh = corrupted human nature (sin).

- (Romans 8:6a, 7, 8) Paul goes on to show you what these lives look like: First, let’s look at a mind set on flesh. He starts with the result: Death. Never made alive. Apart from God. Still under judgment. Those who love their corrupted human nature are dead in their sin. They are also hostile to God. They don’t want to be told what to do. They don’t listen to any authority. A mind set on flesh can’t and doesn’t want to please God.

- (Romans 8:6b) But the mind set on the Spirit results in life and peace. In other words, this person lives a life contrary to the flesh. Yes, he still struggles. However, this person does not set his mind on corrupted human nature. A mind set on the Spirit has peace in all things. True freedom.

APP:

a. Set your mind on the Spirit by emptying the garbage. (What do you fill your mind with?)

b. Set your mind on the Spirit by stopping to listen to him. (When was the last time you sat with God not to get something from him, but to be with him?)

c. Set your mind on the Spirit by repenting of sin he reveals. (One of the biggest things God’s Spirit is doing is making you more like Christ. Let him.)

3. The Spirit in you changes how you walk.

EX:

- (Romans 8:9) He makes a statement about the church knowing that they don’t live in the flesh if the Spirit dwells in them. That is because he changes you. If you are saved, you know because you don’t want the flesh anymore. Yes, you still sin but you hate it!

- (Romans 8:10) Paul makes a comment about the body being dead because of sin. What he means is that when you sin as a Christian it is because your flesh is battling the Spirits work in you. Paul knows what this is like. In the chapter before he says that he goes on doing what he doesn’t want to do and what he wants to do he doesn’t do. Paul is not confused. He is a mature believer that knows he still struggles with sin. BUT, he knows that just as God overcame sin in the body through the resurrection of Jesus, we will overcome sin in our resurrection. Remember, you are righteous!

- (Romans 8:11) God is going to give life to your mortal body as he sanctifies you through his Spirit. Now in one way this will be fulfilled in that there will be a time where we will be resurrected after we die and we will be in the presence of God forever without sin. However, Paul is not just talking about heaven, he is talking about right now! Paul is saying that the Spirit in you can produce freedom from sin and protection against the flesh that we struggle against.

a. Walk in the Spirit by obeying him when you stop and listen. (When you are tempted to lash out against your parents know that the Spirit is here to help you respond with obedience. Stop and take a minute and acknowledge him and pray asking him for help.)

b. Walk in the Spirit by realizing sin has no power. (Think of that sin you struggle with. Some of you live like you are chained to sin when the shackles have been broken. You are just staying in the prison cell of sin)

c. Walk in the Spirit by believing God offers so much more. (Why do you settle for pornography when God offers selflessness. Why do you settle for making fun of others when God offers building on another up in love. It is because we fail to let the Spirit work in us.)

CONC:

- Believer: Evaluate where you are. How can your mind and body be set on the Spirit?

- Unbeliever: If the flesh then repent, and find life!